Project Description:
2.1 Texas Transition Conference
Purpose: Successful post-school outcome rates in the area of post-secondary education and employment for youth with disabilities continues to be considerably lower than for youth without disabilities. Comprehensive transition planning for youth with disabilities is the vehicle that ensures that each student reaches his or her post-school goals. The final outcome of this planning process should be a life that includes employment, postsecondary education, a place to live, community involvement, financial stability, transportation, and ample medical services. Extensive research has been done on secondary practices that are effective for transitioning youth with disabilities into the post-secondary and employment arenas. Also, this population's post-school outcomes are directly affected by the training and support they receive at the secondary level. The need to provide updated information to students, their families, and the professionals who support them is imperative when considering post-school outcomes.
The Texas Transition Conference is held annually to fill this need. The primary goal of this conference is to provide updated information to professionals, service providers, families, and consumers about best practices related to the transition from school to work, legal requirements, and best practices in secondary and post-secondary education for persons with disabilities. Expected benefits of the conference will be updated educational practices related to transition planning and services, and better post-school outcomes for youth with disabilities.
This year's Texas Transition Conference was held live at the Royal Sonesta Galleria in Houston, TX. Livestreamed sessions were offered for those attending virtually.
Total Funding for 2025 : $175,575.00
Our focus is on communication, collaboration, and evidence-based practices that work as it relates to transition throughout life. Our keynotes were experts in self-advocacy, developmental psychology, and work-readiness. They were invited to speak on the importance of mental health, self-advocacy, and strategies to help support students of all ability levels to discover their future careers. All general and breakout sessions were organized under five general strands: (a) student-focused transition planning, (b) family involvement, (c) student development, (d) program structure, and (e) interagency collaboration. A total of 7 general sessions and 35 break-out sessions were provided.
Four hundred secondary educators, transition specialists, service agency personnel, parents, and students attended this year's conference.
116 (29% of 400) completed conference evaluations. Of these 116 respondents, 77 were
highly satisfied, 39 were satisfied and 0 were dissatisfied with the conference.
Registration Fees:
$35, 300.00 Vendors
$140, 275.00 TWC/ISDs
Total registrations: 400
385 professionals
8 parents
7 students
Comments:
I believe this is one of the most important conferences for professionals who are face-to-face with SPED students. Likewise, an important is for all leadership roles.
I look forward to this conference next year! Not only did I walk away with knowledge and resources, but I also met other professionals who are passionate about providing quality transition services.
I really appreciate you putting on this conference. It gives me ideas on how to improve myself as a teacher and things to bring back and share with my admin. I really enjoyed the CTE courses this time. It is something our school needs.
Keyword(s):
Mental/Behavioral Health – Autism, Developmental Disabilities, Mental/Behavioral Health – General , Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs, transition, post secondary, employment
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
